Lee Seung-gi jumps from 800m above2016/04/06, Source,
Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi who is currently serving his duty at the Korean Army Special Operations Command, is going to take part in a training operation where he has to jump to the ground from an aircraft.
He is going to jump 2~3 times from a helicopter 700~800 meters up from the ground,...More

Lee Seung-gi begins his active duty in Special Warfare Command
2016/03/16, Source,
Singer actor Lee Seung-gi, 29, has been assigned to Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command. A source from Korea Army said on March 16th, "Lee Seung-gi has completed the 6 week fundamental military training today and he has been confirmed to be dispatched to Special Warfare Command regiment" and "He will be transferred to the Special Warfare Command regiment by the end of this week and which troops he will serve will be finally decided after the transfer".
According to the Army, there is a big possibility that Lee Seung-gi may serve his active duty at the headquarter of the Special Warfare Command regiment or a reginal brigade under the Special Warfare Command regiment. The source also said, "Since Lee Seung-gi is a soldier of military intelligence corps, he might be serving as an administrator after once he has been dispatched to his troops",...More

Lee Seung-gi is off to the military2016/01/31, Source,
'Prince' Lee Seung-gi is being admitted to the Nonsan training camp on the 1st of February. He will be dispatched to his base after 5 weeks.
Lee Seung-gi has been reputable for being well-mannered. His way to training camp has been done in secret but he will say a few words to fans who are waiting at the entrance of the camp,...More

'Marital Harmony' Sim Eun-kyeong sang Lee Seung-gi's 'Because you're my girl'2015/09/16, Source,
Actress Sim Eun-kyeong sang Lee Seung-gi's song 'Because you're my girl' in front of him during a retreat with actors and staff of their movie 'Marital Harmony'.
Although her singing skill is great enough to have participated in recording a sound track for a movie, it might not have been easy to sing the song in front of the original singer of the song. During the staff retreat for one night two days, she received a round of applause for her singing the song. During the talent show after dinner, she went on the stage representing actors and actresses and sang the song,...More

Yoo Ah-in, Lee Seung-gi, Lee Min-ho working hard on projects before enlisting in army2015/08/27, Source,
It's not over till it's over.
All of male entertainers, who were born in 1986 and 1987, must enlist in the army within this year if early or within next year at the very latest. As you cannot avoid serving the mandatory military service if you're a Korean man, they don't have any other choice. However, they are concentrating on their acting career as if they would want to show it is not over till it's over.
It is evident that they are making efforts to communicate with their fans continuously. We've put together the three actors for this article: Yoo Ah-in, who will become an actor of 10 million viewers soon, Lee Seung-gi, who makes his noona fans smile automatically and effortlessly, Lee Min-ho, who is in the middle of getting ready for his Korea & China joint film project.
Yoo Ah-in works back and forth across the silver screen and the small screen.
Yoo Ah-in will be crowned as an actor of 10 million viewers this weekend for his role in movie, "Veteran" for the first time since he debuted. While he has already been recognized for his acting performances, he is now recognized for his marketability at the box office. He has been appearing in projects continuously without break from 2014 to 2015.
He will also appear on the small screen as well as the silver screen in 2015 this year. Yoo Ah-in is currently filming SBS' 'Six Flying Dragons'. In terms of his silver screen presence, he is getting ready for movie "The Throne" following after "Veteran" which was filmed last year and has been released recently. After "The Throne" has been released in September, his drama, 'Six Flying Dragons' will air its first episode in October.
Lee Seung-gi will concentrate on movies for the time being.
Lee Seung-gi's main title is a singer, however he has been broadening his position as an actor based on his strong acting performances. After he has made a comeback with his new album as a singer in last June, he will return to an entertainment program by co-starring in 'New Journey to the West' with the members of his previous entertainment show, '2 Days & 1 Night' and producer Na Yeong-seok,...More

[Funcurve Review] "Producers"2015/08/15,
Miscue?
Perhaps the most anticipated Korean drama of 2015, "Producers" drew huge attention from the media and the public thanks to its A-list cast and star-studded cameos. Besides the strong lead actors comprised of Kim Soo-hyeon-I, Kong Hyo-jin, Cha Tae-hyeon, and IU, there's an incredible number of Kpop idol appearances like TaeTiSeo of Girls' Generation, Sandara Park of 2NE1, Hani of EXID, and other hallyu stars like Kim Jong-kook, Lee Seung-gi, and Jang Hyeok. But more than the star power, the topic of the drama itself piqued my interest. "Producers" talks about the lives of a group of variety show television producers (PDs) of a major broadcasting company (KBS), shedding light on how they work tirelessly to devise hit programs and handle various work related situations. As an avid fan of Korean variety shows, I'm naturally excited to get a "behind-the-scenes" look at this profession,...More

What makes Lee Seung-gi, Lee Seung-gi?2015/06/18, Source, He is the most wanted male star in his 20s, He is the most upright young male star and a mark for success.
These are some facts mentioned often when speaking of Lee Seung-gi. He's already been in the industry for 11 years. He still has the 'national brother' image but he's not always in the same spot. He started off as a singer and has never lost game as an actor for 11 years. Now he is back as singer Lee Seung-gi,...More

Ji Seong and Hyeon Bin, a fateful choice2015/03/09, Source, It's a war in the miniseries market.
Some get a few million for an episode and some get paid in the tens of millions. Choosing the right scenario is critical. One project might change someone's future and decide how much he or she is worth. Their fee lies on their decision and so does the number of advertisement contracts. Top stars also have to be sincere about what they decide to maintain their status,...More

Yoona and Lee Seung-gi, their special relationship sharing common academic path
2015/02/24, Source,
On February 24th, 'Yoona' wearing a graduation cap showed up at convocation of Dongguk University in Jangchoong-dong, Seoul, where she was awarded bachelor's degree.
Since she entered Art College of Dongguk University in 2009, she has graduated the university in 6 years. As 'Yoona' had been awarded from Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2010 and from Prime Minister in 2011 and played an exemplary role to enhance the image of the university as the result of her outstanding activities, she was selected as the winner of the Achievement Award at the convocation,...More

[HanCinema's Box Office Review] 2015.01.30 ~ 2015.02.012015/02/02, Disney's Oscar delight comes right… Last week Yoo Ha's "Gangnam Blues" entered the fray and scored a narrow victory during a highly competitive weekend. "Gangnam Blues", "Big Hero 6", and Yoon Je-kyoon's "Ode to My Father" were all in the running for gold, but its was Yoo's action noir that the public championed. This weekend, however, saw Walt Disney's "Big Hero 6" gain momentum and claim the week's top spot with over 611K admissions going its way (29%), bumping its total tally in Korea now to 1.7M ($12M). To date, Disney's, Marvel-inspired, Oscar nominee has already banked $484M worldwide, more than double its production budget of around $165M,...More

[HanCinema's Box Office Review] 2015.01.23 - 2015.01.252015/01/26, Yoo's "Blues" shakes things up…Yoo Ha's action noir "Gangnam Blues" (aka "Gangnam 1970") was the number one player at box office over the weekend, pocketing over $5.5M (27%) and coming out on top in what was the most closely-contested tussle at the top we've seen thus far. The 709K filmgoers Yoo persuade into his caves (830) was narrowly enough to spoil Disney's big animated entrance into the game. "Big Hero 6" was, like Yoo's "Blues", released in Korea last Wednesday, and competed over 822 screens to claimed 662K stubs ($5M - 25%). It was an awesome photo finish that ultimately favoured homemade Han over foreign fantasy, but only just,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "Love Forecast"2015/01/24,
A common tagline for bad romantic comedies reads, can a man and a woman just be friends? Relievingly, "Love Forecast" never gets that obnoxious. Joon-soo (played by Lee Seung-gi) and Hyeon-woo (played by Moon Chae-won) are without a doubt friends. They're the ones who have to help each other out emotionally when their actual romantic relationships implode. The main irony "Love Forecast" goes over is the question of why they're only just friends, when they clearly have better long-term toleration for each other than their actual so-called serious partners,...More

[HanCinema's Film News] New Korean Films Inbound...2015/01/10, K-Films Coming Soon: ★★★★ "Today's Love": An unlikely and delicate romance blooms when a tough weather caster and hopeless romantic cross paths. (01/15) ★★★★★ "Lost Flower: Eo Woo-dong": A love triangle unfolds within Joseon's upper class that exposes the hypocrisy of high society. (01/15) ★★★★ "The Cat Funeral": A broken-up couple reunite for the funeral of their cat and are then confronted with past passions. (01/15) ★★★★★ "Chronicle of a Blood Merchant": A factory worker wants to marry the most beautiful woman in the village but first has to sell his blood as a sign of good health. (01/15) ★★★★★ "Mira Story": A documentary that follows a young woman, Mira, as she heads to Gangjung village to help hand out books to the community. (01/15),...More

'Three Meals a Day' Lee Seung-gi proves his great cooking skills2014/12/12, Source,
On the 9th episode of tvN entertainment show, 'Three Meals a Day', which aired on December 12th, actor and singer Lee Seung-gi appeared as a guest and explained how he became to cook.
Na Yeong-seok, the producer of the show scoffed saying, "Seung-gi cannot cook", when Lee Seung-gi was put in charge to prepare dinner. Lee Seo-jin made an exaggerated comment saying, "He is not the old Seung-gi any more. He learned how to cook from all over the countries. The only thing left yet to learn is Sushi",...More

"Kill Me, Heal Me" vs. "Jekyll and I"2014/11/18, Source,
They are alike. They are the two most anticipated dramas of next year and the issue is that they are very much alike. They even have similar characters as they are stories of reporters and investigators.
The new MBC drama "Kill Me, Heal Me" and SBS drama "Jekyll and I" are what we are talking about. "Kill Me, Heal Me" is a 15 billion won drama written by Jin Soo-wan from "The Sun and the Moon". "Jekyll and I" is Kim Ji-woon-II's next big project starring Hyeon Bin. While both of them are yet to be organized on the time schedule, it's not clear if they will be competing with each other, but various factors show that many are hoping that they don't,...More

[HanCinema's Idol Actors] Lee Seung-gi2014/10/11, Lee Seung-gi is an idol actor that has worked hard and made a name for himself in every branch of the industry he has worked in. As a solo singer he is a solid performer who has always done well on stage and in his music videos. As an actor he has worked in multiple genres. As an MC he has found continuing success. What is it about Lee that appeals to the masses? What made his transition from singing to acting so strong? It is Lee's work ethic and general relatability that makes him so successful,...More

Lee Seung-gi does volunteer work in LA for the neglected2014/08/19, Source, Lee Seung-gi conducted charity work at the LA Hallyu convention KCON 2014. He donated things to the neglected class of people and attended the "Girl's Education" as well as held a concert.
"Girl's Education" is a program dedicated to providing quality education to those female teens who can't afford education for various reasons,...More

KCON 2014 Reaches New Heights with over 42,000 in Attendance2014/08/12, Source,
Los Angeles Was the Center of "All Things Hallyu" This Weekend Mayor Eric Garcetti Toured the Convention and Welcomed KCON's Return to L.A. More than 42,000 fans (over double of last year's numbers) converged in Los Angeles this weekend from across the country and all over the world to attend the third annual KCON (www.kconusa.com), the largest celebration of Korean pop culture. This year's event boasted 30 percent more programming, a new, free and open to the public market place, as well as two nights of concerts featuring the hottest K-pop artists from Korea-B1A4, BTS, CNBLUE, G-Dragon, Girls' Generation, IU, Jung Joon Young, SPICA, TEEN TOP and VIXX. A television special of the concert – M COUNTDOWN 2NIGHTS IN LA – will be shown in the U.S. by Mnet America (www.mnetamerica.com) on air and online on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 7PM EST/4PM PST and Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 7PM EST/4PM PST,...More

Free Outdoor Market and Live Stage Added To KCON for First Time, as 2014 Convention Continues to Grow2014/07/25, Source,
KCON 2014 Includes Two Night of K-pop Concerts, Appearances from Top Korean Drama Stars, "League of Legends" Exhibition Match, and the "Taste of KCON"
A Larger Convention with More Panels, Workshops and Special Guests from Across Hallyu Storm Downtown L.A. August 9 and 10
KCON, the largest annual fan celebration of all things Hallyu, announced today that the third annual convention will feature a free marketplace with vendors from around LA and a free outdoor stage. KCON 2014 also revealed its program schedule for this year's two day convention taking place August 9 and 10 in Downtown Los Angeles. Building on last year's highly successful event at the Los Angeles Memorial Arena, KCON 2014 will return with a programming slate double the size and more varied than ever. In addition to two star-studded K-pop concerts (up from one in 2013), special guests and a new program of panels and workshops, KCON 2014 will add a slew of first-time features to the convention.
These include:
- A free market and outdoor stage, which will showcase local artists along with vendors from the L.A. area including the "Taste of KCON", serving up some of the best food from K-Town.
- Huge K-Drama stars Yoo In-na, Lee Seung-gi and Lee Seo-jin appearing at KCON as special guests,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded"2014/07/19,
Mixing of genres and giving a series its own style and identity are not easy things in the Korean drama industry. With certain elements being the definitive crowd pleasing ones, creators are often called to place all of their eggs in essentially the romance and melodrama basket. This is where a lot of series lose their way, by changing too much of what the work was supposed to be, what it began as and what it promised audiences. Despite these frequent failures, some creators manage to maintain the soul of their work while still offering rating boosters. 'You're Surrounded' is one of those works,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 20 (final)2014/07/19,
"You're Surrounded" has come full circle, giving it a satisfying ending in this finale. There were many moments that mirrored the events of the first episode, and those moments carried so much more weight after the journey through the past twenty episodes. What is most satisfying is that this finale didn't feel rushed. Rather, it provided the climax for the battle between the good guys and Assemblyman Yoo, then rode the lovely denouement to the finish. The weaknesses of the finale are similar to the overall weaknesses of the show,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 192014/07/18,
The penultimate episode of "You're Surrounded" tied a lot of pieces together. It was a mixture of very moving, and slightly disapointing. Back stories were finally depicted in an amount of detail that should've been present ages ago. It would've given the significant happening of the episode much more impact. Much of the lack of development comes from the show's slow pace. Pace does not always dictate less storytelling, but it does require more efficient writing impart information. What this episode suffered from was a lack of buildup,...More

Yoo Seung-ho and Lee Je-hoon to come back2014/07/17, Source,
The Department of DefeNational Servicee clock goes around and around. Some actors in their 20s are done with service and will be coming back soon.
Yoo Seung-ho and Lee Je-hoon who were admitted to National Service in 2012, are almost done. They are currently positioned at the 27 District Recruit Training Center and the Seoul Police PromotioNational Service Unit. Lee Je-hoon gets discharged first on the 24th of this month and Yoo Seung-ho this coming 4th of December,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 182014/07/13,
And the hits just keep coming, giving this show a darker edge than before. Dae-goo struggles to come to terms with all the information he and his team dig up, and the bad guys dive deeper into moral depravity. It's baffling how much power Assemblyman Yoo has to ruin lives, take lives, and manipulate the system,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 172014/07/11,
"You're Surrounded" was all about the truth in episode 17. The key players are fully informed and yet their hands are tied by the system, by corruption, and by the dastardly deeds of the powerful and greedy. While the pace of this episode was decidedly slow, the amount of wonderful introspection made up for it. The episode focused on revealing the pasts of Dae-goo and Tae-il, addressing painful issues and making a few statements,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 162014/07/05,
This was a powerhouse episode. In fact, it was the best episode by far, both in execution and in content. It touched on the major issues of each character, moved the plot along, and packed some hard emotional punches. Yoo Ae-yun, Assemblyman Yoo's daughter and the instigator of many troubles, is at the center of everything. She is the reason behind Yoo's villainy. He has committed crimes to cover up her, but at the same time, he has allowed the action of covering up to corrupt him,...More

Largest K-pop Fan Convention In North America Reveals Full Artist Line-up As Individual Tickets Go On-sale July 3 At 10 A.m. Pt2014/07/02, Source,
KCON 2014 Now Features Two Nights of M COUNTDOWN:2NIGHTS IN LA Concerts Including Performances By BTS, B1A4, CNBLUE, G-Dragon, Girls' Generation, IU, Jung Joon Young, TEEN TOP and VIXX
A Larger Convention with More Panels, Workshops and Special Guests from Across Hallyu like K-Drama star, Lee Seung Gi All Scheduled for August 9 and 10 in Downtown L.A.
KCON, the largest annual fan celebration of Korean entertainment and culture announced today the full artist lineup for both nights of concert as individual tickets become available starting Thursday, July 3 at 10 A.M. PT. Combo tickets are on sale now.
Returning to the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Downtown Los Angeles on August 9-10, KCON 2014 is where "All Things Hallyu" will converge for two days of unforgettable concerts, panels, workshops, food, fashion, and much more,...More

Lee Seung-gi's Pizza Hut ad2014/07/01, Source,
Actor Lee Seung-gi's eating ad has been divided into 3 types.
Lee Seung-gi earned the nickname 'the front runner of eating'. Filming an ad for Pizza Hut, pictures of him eating a slice of pizza like a roll were released, showing off his dimples wearing a white shirt,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 142014/06/27,
It's a sad episode for the good guys of "You're Surrounded" because they lose to money, power, and an imperfect system. On the other hand, Dae-goo finally gets to kiss the girl he's been hankering after and the detective team's newest case gave him his reason. Relationships develop further although the plot stagnates a bit,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 132014/06/27,
"You're Surrounded" is a character driven story that makes wonderful use of the plot to bring out the best, and the worst, of the characters on screen. It addresses the situations that bring people closer and highlights the beauty in human connection. It also shows how the darker aspects of human nature can snowball into something terrible. While the plot of "You're Surrounded" is not the most inspired plot to grace the small screen, The Way It Is constructed gives clear motivations to all characters,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 122014/06/20,
"You're Surrounded" has a cohesiveness that is made up of its predictable elements and its wonderfully timed and portrayed character beats. Its plotline is nothing new, nor are the bad guys and their evil ways. But what makes this show unique is how it infuses its characters with humanity. There is nothing black-and-white about this show despite the fact that the world in which the characters exist is very insular and the plot relies on coincidences,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 112014/06/19,
This episode is about realization and understanding, or the lack thereof. Secrets are out, but they are no easier to deal with. Unlike in the past, however, the characters no longer have to deal with the hardships on their own. They have to get used to friendship, but its a heartwarming journey. When Dae-goo is severely injured by the man who killed his mother, he is hospitalized and in need of aid to perform daily functions,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 102014/06/14,
There was only one episode this week due to Lee Seung-gi's eye injury, but it packed a punch. The darker characters were fleshed out and all separate pieces of the big mystery that tie the main characters together are starting to come together. Pan-seok has discovered Dae-goo's identity and Cha Seung-won is brilliant as he shows the process of dealing with that discovery and the emotions that go along with it,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 92014/06/06,
The truth is out and although it's couched in lies, Pan-seok and Soo-seon now know Dae-goo's identity. The reveal of the truth gives the three characters some lovely turning points and allows the actors to shine. In general, "You're Surrounded" has found it's stride in delivering the messages it sets out to send. While situations that send these messages may not be tied up as realistically as they could be, they are still satisfying in their conclusions,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 82014/05/31,
"You're Surrounded" is now focusing on the idea that the rookies and their leaders are growing into an extended family. Within any family there is love, jealousy, fighting, misunderstanding, and secrets. Brothers fight, parents feel pride. Now that the detectives are one family, they have to suffer through growing pains. Ji Gook gets his time to deal with his issues of inferiority, rendering his tight relationship with Tae-il tense and awkward,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 72014/05/30,
"You're Surrounded" has made a big effort to express a message in each episode. It focuses on how people grow in different stages of life after experiencing hardships. It's not really a drama about detectives catching murderers. It's about four young people growing into their under under a leader who still has a few things to learn himself. Part of growing up is contending with the past and it's role in one's life,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 62014/05/26,
"You're Surrounded" has found its balance between character growth and the case of the week. Almost every member of the detective unit has been fleshed out to some extent, the two major romantic involvements have begun, and a very hopeful message is passed on in each episode.
This show focuses on growth for the detective team as a unit,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 5 2014/05/23,
The detectives in "You're Surrounded" have begun to function as a team, rookies and seasoned pros alike. They are on a case that requires complete participation and dedication to solve the death of a seven-year-old boy. This case opens old wounds, pits detective against prosecutor, and changes the dynamics of the cast.
"You're Surrounded" gave insight into the reason Pan-seok and Sa-kyung divorced. They lost a young son and couldn't recover from the guilt and blame and severe pain of such a loss. I love that the issue wasn't petty, but something hefty and chock full of great writing material. The episode's missing child case is so similar to their loss that it brings badly buried emotions and memories to the fore,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 42014/05/16,
Episode 4 of "You're Surrounded" was a pleasant surprise. The pacing was excellent and the balance between the comedy, the detective work, and the character development was much improved from the past three episodes. If the rest of the show settles this nicely, "You're Surrounded" can be a great show. One of the strongest points of the episode was using the situations the rookies found themselves to highlight their growth while simultaneously forcing them to either become real detectives, or literally die. The growing process begins with the heavy fallout of the stabbing from the last episode,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 22014/05/11,
"You're Surrounded" is a fun show. While it has a few serious themes, most of the interest lies in the satirical social commentary and slapstick humor. The show falters when it attempts to venture into deeper explorations of characters and issues. It doesn't handle the overlap of serious and light-hearted well. Still, it's a good hour of fun Both Pan-seok and Dae-goo have a shared dark past that keep them from fully immersing themselves in the comedy that pervades the rest of the show,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You're Surrounded" Episode 12014/05/08,
"You're Surrounded" started off strong, boasting of a great child cast, a fast-paced opening, and a quick, breezy introduction of all the main characters. There were two general moods: humorous, and dark. While both were well set as isolated scenes, the combination was a bit incongruous. The four rookies in the present have had a brief introduction, but not much else,...More

Jackie Chan Invites Korean Stars to 60th Birthday Bash2014/04/12, Source,
Actress Kim Hee-seon (left) speaks at a party celebrating Jackie Chan's 60th birthday in Beijing on Sunday. /Xinhua
Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan has celebrated his 60th birthday with extended parties and invited celebrities from around the world. Starting with a concert in Beijing on Sunday, on the eve of his birthday, the star of movies like "Drunken Master", "Police Story" and "Rush Hour" has been holding events for five days in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. He has invited over 1,000 stars and movie fans to attend the celebrations. Around 30 Korean celebrities were also invited including actress Kim Hee-seon, actors Lee Byung-hun and Lee Seung-gi, and members of K-pop boy band EXO,...More

Jackie Chan Invites Korean Stars to 60th Birthday Bash2014/04/11, Source,
Actress Kim Hee-seon (left) speaks at a party celebrating Jackie Chan's 60th birthday in Beijing on Sunday. /Xinhua
Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan has celebrated his 60th birthday with extended parties and invited celebrities from around the world. Starting with a concert in Beijing on Sunday, on the eve of his birthday, the star of movies like "Drunken Master", "Police Story" and "Rush Hour" has been holding events for five days in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong,...More

Lee Mi-yeon Reveals Hidden Charms on Reality Show2013/12/11, Source,
Cable channel tvN's latest reality show "Sisters Over Flowers", which began airing on Nov. 29, has served as a shot in the arm for the career of actress Lee Mi-yeon. In the show, Lee shows her boundless energy, free-spirited personality and friendly attitude while traveling abroad with other veteran actresses,...More

"Noonas Over Flowers" Available in US on Hulu from December 2nd!2013/11/27,
New Season of Hit Reality Show Follows Top South Korean Actresses Backpacking Through Eastern Europe New Episodes Available Every Monday tvN is back with the second season of its hit star backpacking reality show, now called Noonas Over Flowers, airing on November 29th in South Korea. Following the breakout success of last season's Grandpas Over Flowers which featured four elderly male actors traveling together in Taiwan, Na Yong-suk PD returns with South Korea's top actresses,...More

Lee Seung-gi not at all like Lee Seo-jin2013/11/11, Source,
Producer Na told stories of the epilogue of "Sister Over Flowers" in Croatia.
He said, "The female members were much more sensitive and friendly. It was definitely different from being with the grandfathers",...More

Lee Seung-gi on his 2nd backpacking trip2013/09/02, Source,
Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi is starring in the tvN show "Grandpa Over Flowers".
"Grandpa Over Flowers" is preparing for the second season in following the Europe and Taiwan season. Lee Seung-gi is reuniting with producer Na Yeong-seok with whom he worked with for a long time on the KBS 2TV "Happy Sunday – 1 Night 2 Days",...More

Celebrities Favor Gangnam Luxury Condos2013/06/28, Source,
Actor Jeong Woo-seong is moving into a luxury condominium in the affluent Gangnam area of southern Seoul where his friend and fellow actor Lee Jeong-jae has already bought a unit.
The condo, currently under construction, is in Samseong-dong. It stands 16 stories high and contains only 18 units between 155 and 293 sq.m. Units cost between W2 billion and W5.5 billion (US$1=W1,151),...More

Suzy, "I couldn't even sleep"2013/06/25, Source, Suzy was greatly reviewed for her outstanding performance as Dam Yeo-wool in the MBC drama "Gu Family Book". Her romance with Lee Seung-gi in the role of Choi Kang-chi sweetened up the atmosphere and became the heroine.
Suzy said, "I learned a lot from this drama. I was taken care of by many people like the director and fellow actors and actresses so I was able to gain more confidence. It was easy to act out Yeo-wool because she is more like me",...More

Suzy reveals graduation picture2013/02/07, Source,
Miss A Suzy revealed her graduation picture.
Various online communities were posted with pictures of the singer/actress titled, "Suzy's Graduation Picture". She is wearing a neat yellow uniform with her hair down,...More

Gov't Agencies Splash Out on Celebrity Promoters2012/11/17, Source,
Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi has been paid W572 million since 2010 for promoting the lottery for the Ministry of Strategy and Finance (US$1=W1,093). Boy group Super Junior was paid W380 million since March 2010 by the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to promote Korean cuisine around the world. Over the last four years, 41 out of 62 government agencies that hired entertainers as honorary ambassadors spent hundreds of millions to billions of won in modeling fees and other expenses. The 41 government agencies spent more than W6 billion over that period,...More

Art and Culture2012/11/14, Source,
It's Wednesday and it's time for our weekly celebrity news updates with Michelle Kim.
Today she'll give us the latest about the scandal on "Sesame Street" and tell us about a teen pop star break up. Hello Michelle [Reporter : ] Hello Conn-young So what will you start us off with[Reporter : ] Today I'm going to begin with some shocking news about a television show that we all love and adore. The man behind the character of Elmo, the fuzzy red monster on the long-running American children's television show "Sesame Street", is taking a break from the show. Take a look at this to learn why,...More

Art and Culture2012/11/02, Source, It's finally Friday and our Michelle Kim is here with us for our daily arts and culture segment. Today, she'll preview two exhibitions and a musical that are going on this weekend. Hello Michelle [Reporter : ] Hello Conn-young So what do you have for us today[Reporter : ] I have two fun events that could make for a great weekend with friends and family. Anish Kapoor, is showing work in central Seoul and the musical "Golden Days" explores the delicate relationship between people and the environment they inhabit,...More

Art and Culture2012/10/25, Source,
And now it's time for our arts and culture segment with Michelle Kim. Today she'll tell us about two special events in Seoul.
Hello Michelle [Reporter : ] Hello Conn-young So what do you have for us today[Reporter : ] Well, this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and two countries -- New Zealand and Iran. On Wednesday, New Zealand commemorated the occasion with a performance and other events. Take a look,...More

Art and Culture2012/08/29, Source,
It's Wednesday, which means it's time for our weekly celebrity news segment with Michelle Kim. I hear that today she has the latest on a Korean heartthrob, and of course all the latest Hollywood gossip for us to enjoy. Hello Michelle [Reporter : ] Hello Conn-young So what do you have for us today
[Reporter : ] It was the first time for singer and actor Lee Seung-gi to visit Southeast Asia nation for an official event. He was welcomed by a large crown of fans, screaming, chanting and waving at Korea's Pop Prince. I have the details on this event for you right now,...More

Has Manufactured K-Pop Run Its Course?2012/06/08, Source,
Fans cheer wildly at a concert by JYJ in Barcelona, Spain in October last year. /Courtesy of C-Jes Entertainment
June 10, 2010 was a momentous day for Korean pop music. A large-scale live concert of K-pop stars like Girls' Generation, Super Junior, SHINee and f(x) was staged in Paris, and some had high hopes that this would mean the Korean Wave had splashed beyond Asia into the wider world. There have since been some 260 K-pop concerts in the West, from New York via Barcelona and Berlin to Santiago de Chile, according to Korea Creative Contents Agency. But is K-pop really moving in the right direction?,...More

Lee Seung-gi Mesmerizes Fans in Japan's Budokan2012/06/08, Source,
Hallyu singer and actor Lee Seung-gi held his first solo concert in Japan titled "2012 Lee Seung-gi Japan First Live - Hope" on June 1st.
Lee Seung-gi made a successful debut in Japan, ranking number one on the Oricon Daily Chart with his debut single "Time for Love" which was released in March. His first concert comes just three months since his Japanese debut, setting a record for the shortest time to achieve the feat among Korean singers,...More

Lee Seung-gi: 'My Debut Single Ranks Atop Oricon Chart Thanks to You'2012/03/23, Source,
Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi held a fan meeting entitled "Lee Seung-gi Japan Debut Premier" twice at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo on March 21 with the fans who had purchased his Japanese debut single "Alone In Love". Lee Seung-gi said to his fans who attended the event, "I came here right after I finished filming the drama until 5 am in the morning". He also revealed his feelings about his debut single "Alone In Love", which was released in March 6 and ranked atop the Oricon daily chart, saying, "It was all thanks to you. I had concerns about whether this album could achieve success or not in Japan, but you have encouraged me and supported me. It was you who made my album rank atop the chart. Thank you. I will continue to do my best",...More

Lee Seung-gi To Bear The Torch At London Olympics2012/03/14, Source,
The triple threat entertainer, Lee Seung-gi can add another accomplishment to his resume: London Olympics Torchbearer.
Lee's agency, Hook Entertainment, confirmed on March 14th that the star was chosen as a torchbearer for the London Olympics in July. No other details were revealed,...More

Lee Seung-gi Hits #1 On Oricon Charts2012/03/08, Source,
Well-rounded entertainer Lee Seung-gi is well-loved around the world.
According to reports on March 6th, after releasing his debut single in Japan "Dating Time", Lee hit number one on the Oricon Daily Singles chart on that very same day. He's been seeing a very successful debut there to say the least,...More

Organ Transplant Girl Gets Surprise Visit from Lee Seung-gi2012/03/05, Source,
After successfully having seven organs transplanted, a seven-year-old girl with a rare congenital digestive disorder saw one of her wishes come true recently when she got to meet actor Lee Seung-gi.
Cho Eun-seo was born with a rare disease that left her unable to digest food, meaning she would often throw up after eating just a spoonful of rice. She underwent complicated surgery last October in Seoul and became the first person in Korea to have many organs transplanted at the same time,...More

What Song Do You Want To Hear Sung By Your BF/GF On Valentine?2012/02/13, Source,
Valentine's Day is just around the corner and men and women around the world are all planning for the "perfect" day with their significant others.
On February 1st, free online dating site (www.cp.co.kr) conducted a three day survey asking men in their 20′s to 30′s which song they would like to hear their girlfriends sing to them on Valentine's Day?,...More

Lee Seung-gi to Debut in Japan2012/02/01, Source,
Star entertainer Lee Seung-gi will debut as a singer in Japan in March and hold a solo concert at Budokan in Japan in June. During the press conference held at MLB Cafe Tokyo in Yebisu on January 30 before his official debut in Japan, almost 150 news reporters came to cover the story.
Lee Seung-gi sang the title song of his debut single in Japan entitled "Alone in Love" and his hit song "We're Friends". Concerning his plan of holding the concert at Budokan, he said, "I am very glad about holding my concert at such a good venue where only special singing groups can have this great opportunity". Lee Seung-gi will be recorded as a singer who has come to hold a concert at Budokan only after three months after his debut among Korean singing groups,...More

Which Idol Star Owns The Most Expensive Home?2012/01/25, Source,
Top stars in Korean entertainment work hard, and earn quite large sums for their hard work. Reports on some of the most successful stars living in the most expensive homes have been revealed in the past. Legendary singer Cho Young-nam has been rumored to be at the top of the list with a villa worth $5.2 million. However, what about the younger generation of idol stars?,...More

Secret marriage, lawsuits, rumors: stars make headlines 2011/12/28, Source,
Singer Seo Taiji, left, and actress Lee Ji-ah shocked the nation with their marriage history. / Korea Times file
By Noh Hyun-gi For the most, entertainers make us laugh with their talents. But they are often the scrutiny of the limelight themselves, prompting news, sometimes rumors and controversies. Here are the top entertainment news items that made headlines in 2011,...More

K-celebrities now VCR12011/12/16, Source, Kara is one of Korea's top idol groups.
And Kara's Gyu Ri is making her debut in the musical world through "200 Pounds Beauty".
[Interview : Gyu Ri, Member Kara] "This is my first musical. It's something I've wanted to do ever since I was a child".
As a singer in an idol group, Gyu Ri is a little worried about performing in a musical,...More

Lee Seung-gi: 'No One Can Fill Vacancy of Kang Ho Dong'2011/10/27, Source,
Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi, who had appeared with Kang Ho Dong on the KBS 2TV variety program "Happy Sunday - Two Days and One Night" and on the SBS variety program "Strong Heart", stated his opinion on October 26, "The vacancy of Kang Ho Dong will not be filled by anyone in the future". He participated in a press conference held in Seongsudong on October 26 to commemorate the release of his fifth album. What he said was an answer for a question by a news reporter who had asked, "Many people are saying that Lee Seung-gi successfully filled the empty place where Kang Ho Dong had stood before. What do you think?",...More

Lee Seung-gi, Ha Ji-won Among Top Savors This Year2011/10/26, Source,
The Financial Services Commission marked the 48th Savings Day on Tuesday by giving savings award to 73 people including one decoration, three medals, and five presidential commendations.
The highest decoration was awarded to Hwang Soon-ja, a 62-year-old woman who has been a street vendor at a market in Seoul for 35 years. With little earnings, Hwang managed to raise her son on her own for 20 years, working from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day, and making daily savings while sponsoring children in need in Africa,...More

VCR1 Weekly star scene2011/10/20, Source, We go wherever the stars go! Here's the hottest entertainment news of the week! Let's go!
Our #5 Hot news is the comeback of Lee Seung-gi, a.k.a. the king of ballads.
The multi-entertainer is back in the music industry with a song he wrote himself, and his voice is as sweet as ever.
[SOV] [Interview : ] "Shall we date
Hot News #4 brings us news of Hallyu star Ryoo Si-won's fan meeting.
[SOV] [Interview : ] "Hello, everyone!",...More

No Goodbye Episode For Kang Ho-dong On "1 Night 2 Days"2011/09/21, Source,
Fans of "1 Night 2 Days" will no longer be able to see the ringleader to the humor madness, Kang Ho-dong.
According to a KBS rep, although the original plans had a farewell trip for the cast of the show, due to Kang's sudden temporary retirement announcement and the media frenzy that followed, no such episode was filmed. Thus Kang's appearance on the popular show will abruptly come to an end,...More

Kim Yuna, Most Memorable Ad Model For First Half of 20112011/08/18, Source,
World-renowned figure skater Kim Yuna leaves deep impressions not only on the ice, but through her many advertisements.
According to a report on the most memorable ad model for the first half of 2011 conducted by government organizations, Kim came out on top with 10.5% of the votes. This is her third win after being number one in 2009 and 2010,...More

Weekly Star Scene2011/05/12, Source, Show transcript
Once again it's time for "weekly star scene", where we have a review of the events that moved and shook the Korean entertainment scene during the past week.
: We have no other than our unique Dami in the studio! Hello Dami.
[Reporter : ] : Hi 견영! Hi Sean! First let me ask 건영, who would you like to sing at your wedding: __________ . Why do you ask[Reporter : ] : Well, indeed, no wedding is complete without a congratulatory song. And don't you think is make the most unforgettable wedding if you could have a Hallyu star to perform on your big day
King of all trades, Lee Seung-gi, with his proven talents in singing, acting and hosting TV shows, has come to grace an otherwise ordinary wedding today,...More

Lee Seung-gi surprise appearance at wedding 2011/05/02, Source, Lee Seung-gi made a surprise appearance at a wedding and presented a song.
He showed up at a wedding in the Seoul Sejong Cultural Center on the 30th of April and sang the sweetest wedding song, receiving tremendous reaction from the guests. The wedding couple were winners of Samsung Zipel Grande Style 840 'Lee Seung-gi's Sweet Wedding Song' event and he was there to present them with a real song.,...More

A Korean reality show with Lee Seung-gi and Kang Ho-dong – "1 Night 2 Days"2011/02/01, Source,
There are two kinds of traveling: one, you sit on a beach with white sand, looking out at the turquoise water, rubbing layers of sunblock on your skin under the shade of palm trees lazily hanging over you; two, you get your adrenaline pumped as you compete in unexpected adventures as you seek to expose yourself to the rawest experiences unique to the place you visit.As tempting as both options may sound, you must ask yourself, 'which of those experiences will be recalled with greater appreciation in the future?' – obviously the latter without a question,...More

Talk Battles among Korean Celebs on every Tuesday night!2011/01/22, Source, Do you remember the actor/singer Lee Seung-gi who played a leading role in "My Girlfriend is a Gumiho" in 2010? He's a host of the Korean talk show "Strong Heart" with Kang Ho-dong, a famous emcee in Korea.
On Tuesday nights, about twenty celebrity guests gather in an SBS studio and share their stories. Mostly, they talk about their hardships in debuting, strange experiences, and some other funny events in their lives. As these stars share their stories, viewers and fans get a chance to become more familiar with them,...More

Kang Ho-dong scores grand prize at SBS Entertainment Awards 2010/12/31, Source,
Kang Ho-dong [Asia Economic Daily]
Korean entertainer Kang Ho-dong scored the grand prize at the year-end SBS Entertainment Awards, held at SBS' Open Hall on Thursday. Kang was given the top honor for his role as the emcee for popular SBS variety shows "Steel Heart" and "Star King", making it his fifth grand prize win during a year-end show,...More

'Rabbit' celebrities to make leaps in 2011 2010/12/31, Source,
By Kwon Mee-yoo
People born in the Year of the Rabbit are considered skillful and diligent, though not very patient in Korean traditional beliefs, following the traits of real rabbits, a small but clever animal.
The hottest rabbit star could be singer and actor Lee Seung-gi who was born in 1987, turning 24 this year,...More

Lee Kyung-kyu wins grand prize at KBS Entertainment Awards 2010/12/26, Source,
Comedia Lee Kyung-kyu [Asia Economic Daily]
Korean comedian Lee Kyung-kyu won the grand prize at the KBS Entertainment Awards held over the weekend.
At the awards ceremony held at KBS' Open Hall on Saturday, Lee was awarded the top honor for his role as emcee of KBS variety show segment "What Makes A Man", part of entertainment program "Happy Sunday", which is one of the most-watched shows in the country,...More

Girls' Generation wins best artist at 2010 MelOn MUSIC AWARDS2010/12/16, Source,
Winners of the "2010 MelOn MUSIC AWARDS"
Korean female idols Girls' Generation have claimed the top prize once again at the MelOn MUSIC AWARDS, taking the award for best artist this year as well as winning in three other categories.
At the awards ceremony for the 2010 MelOn MUSIC AWARDS held yesterday at the Grand Peace Palace at Seoul's Kyung Hee University, the nine-member girl group were recognized as best artist of the year, placed among the top 10 singers in the country and took the Hot Trend award,...More

Jang Geun-seok to receive 2 awards at 2010 Asia Buzz Award 2010/12/02, Source,
Actor Jang Geun-seok [Tree J Company]
Korea's popular idol star Jang Geun-seok is likely to receive two awards for the upcoming Yahoo! Buzz Awards 2010, according to Jang's promoter Tree J. Company on Thursday.
Tree J. announced in press release that Jang is currently first in two of three categories -- top male star and top Asian star -- in a popularity poll including Internet users in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia between November 8 to December 1,...More

[Hallyu] Move over girls, the boys are back!2010/11/18, Source,
Singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong
By Han Sang-hee
It seems like only yesterday that young, handsome and talented male singers and actors paved the path for local television programs to debut overseas. The word "hallyu" has become a household term in so many Asian countries, including Japan, China and Thailand, and the torch has been passed to yet another group of talented stars, particularly K-pop girl groups. Just when fans may have thought the pretty girls have captivated Asia, the boys, both old and new, have jumped right back into the picture, but on a more diverse scale.
The females take over...
Currently, girl groups are doing a good job in continuing the hallyu craze. Some local press are even calling it the "second phase of hallyu", and the groups have music chart success, concerts and television shows to prove it,...More

Micky Yoochun: 'Acting Is Really Enjoyable'2010/11/09, Source, Micky Yoochun (24), who successfully debuted as an actor by appearing in the drama "Sungkyunkwan Scandal", said, "I really enjoyed acting and I feel like acting continuously from now on. I want to have activities both as a singer and an actor".
His debut was very electrifying. He gained huge popularity not as a member of Asia's popular idol group JYJ, which consists of three of the former Dong Bang Shin Ki members, but as actor Micky Yoochun. His debut drama was "Sungkyunkwan Scandal", and now he can simultaneously chase two goals of singing and acting. He seems to be following after popular singers such as Jeong Ji Hoon (Rain) and Lee Seung-gi, who has been highly acknowledged as an actor as well. The reporter met Micky Yoochun, who had reportedly been laid up with fatigue for two days after finishing the drama, at the office of JVJ on November 5.
Park came with a fresh appearance after cutting off the long hair that he had grown for the past six months, and he said with a big smile, "Even though I lost almost ten kilograms while filming the drama and I had to be taken to the hospital twice to get an IV, I was really happy while acting",...More

Lee Seung-gi's youth pictures...He has grown up so well2010/11/02, Source,
National actor Lee Seung-gi's youth pictures are becoming popular once again.
On an internet community board, a netizen uploaded pictures of young Lee Seung-gi, which was revealed in an entertainment program awhile ago. The pictures start from his baby picture, elementary school, middle school and finally high school picture, when he was active in entertainment business. Especially the pictures which was taken when Lee Seung-gi was in kindergarten are famous among many 'nuna (sister) fans', because of his big and bright eyes.,...More

[REVIEW] SBS TV series "My Girlfriend is Gumiho" - Finale Episode2010/10/01, Source,
A scene from SBS TV series "My Girlfriend is Gumiho" [SBS]
In how many different ways could have "My Girlfriend is Gumiho" ended? If you agree to the fact that Dae-woong (played by Lee Seung-gi) and Miho (played by Sin Min-ah) had to go through the excruciating process that they did to check whether their love is not an illusion, what comes after that is a question of choice. "My Girlfriend is Gumiho" is free from the logic and probabilities existent in the human world as long as Gumiho remains the main character who has supernatural abilities,...More

On the set of SBS TV series "Steel Heart"2010/10/01, Source, Lee Seung-gi and Kang Ho-dong [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]
"There's no photo for Jia!" "Not Lee Ji-ah, not solo singer Zia so try typing in 'miss A Jia'". The dressing room of the 'Teuk Academy' team, composed of Super Junior members Leeteuk, Shindong (Sin Dong-hee) and Eun-hyuk, of SBS talk show "Steel Heart" is busy two hours ahead of going into shoot. "There's a photograph she took with Nichkhun a long time ago. You'll probably be able to find it on Daum", Leeteuk says, chipping in to the dialogue between Shindong (Sin Dong-hee) and Eun-hyuk. His brain contains any celebrity's picture from the past and every photo of them netizens have edited. Then one after another, he also finds one of a foreign female singer with pink hair like Jia's and when Norazo's Jo Bin was pretty,...More

[INTERVIEW] Super Junior's Shindong, Leeteuk, Eunhyuk - Part 12010/09/29, Source,
From left, Super Junior members Shindong (Sin Dong-hee), Leeteuk and Eun-hyuk [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]
SBS talk show "Steel Heart" aired for the first time on October 6 of last year. And during the early stages of this massive show, while over 20 guests 'battled' each other with stories which are funny, sad or absurd, regular panelist Boom created small segments titled 'Boomkikago' and 'Boom Academy' which filled up the spaces in between such talk. His joining the military less than a month after the show premiered created a vacuum but his brilliant students Leeteuk, Shindong (Sin Dong-hee) and Eun-hyuk of boy band Super Junior continued his legacy with 'Teukgigayo' and 'Teuk Academy'. So how did these boys -- prince charming to numerous girls and hosts of their own radio shows -- carry on 'Teuk Academy' for a year? 10Asia met with the three who were busy preparing for a recording of "Steel Heart",...More

"Happy Sunday" scores 1st win atop weekly TV charts2010/09/27, Source,
Korean variety show "Happy Sunday" [Official KBS English Website]
KBS entertainment program "Happy Sunday" scored its first win atop the weekly TV charts, beating out various dramas during the final week of September.
Data by TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) and AGB Nielsen Media Research revealed that the variety show raked in viewership ratings of,...More

Japan wins Grand Prize at Seoul Int'l Drama Awards2010/09/13, Source,
Poster of Japanese series "Shoe-Shine Boy" [TV Tokyo]
Japanese TV series "Shoe-Shine Boy" won the grand prize award at the fifth annual Seoul International Drama held last week, beating out over 170 works from a total 43 different countries.
"Shoe-Shine Boy", based on a novel about the life of a shoe shiner during the aftermath of World War II, began its run in Japan on TV Tokyo in 2009,...More

Television fans all recognize singer and actor Lee Seung-gi for his perfect guy-next-door image with a sweet smile and attr,...More

Lee Seung-gi: 'I Never Act on Entertainment Programs' 2010/08/08, Source,
Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi, who has become the most wanted person by appearing both on entertainment programs and in dramas, revealed his opinion by saying, "I never act when I appear on a reality entertainment program".
In the production presentation of the drama "My Girlfriend is a Gumiho", which was held on August 4, Lee Seung-gi answered the question asking whether appearing on entertainment programs has helped his acting by saying, "I have an ironclad rule that I never act on entertainment programs". He has appeared on KBS's most popular entertainment program "One Night and Two Days" for several years and has been an active participant as a cast member of the show,...More

[PREVIEW] SBS TV series "My Girlfriend Is Gumiho" (1) 2010/08/05, Source, What to expect from, or worry about, Lee Seung-gi, Sin Min-ah and the Hong sisters
Korean actors Lee Seung-gi (left) and Sin Min-ah at the press conference for their upcoming TV series "My Girlfriend Is Gumiho" held at SBS headquarters in Seoul, South Korea on August 4, 2010. [photographed by Chae Ki-won/10Asia]
Press conference for SBS TV series "My Girlfriend Is Gumiho"
'The Hong Sisters' are back. They joined hands with Lee Seung-gi, the so-called 'man of 100 percent viewership rating' while Sin Min-ah, who is 'not just a coffee' [as she is described in her recent TV commercial for coffee] also hopped aboard. SBS TV series "My Girlfriend Is Gumiho", which premieres August 11 at 9:55 p.m. as the follow-up Wednesday/Thursday evening drama to "Bad Man", is neither a historical epic nor a blockbuster drama with a production budget of over,...More

Jo Jeong-rin says Lee Seung-gi stirred trouble with agency2010/07/14, Source,
Comedienne Jo Jeong-rin appears on variety show "Steel Heart" [SBS]
Comedienne Jo Jeong-rin has revealed that she almost got kicked out of her agency for helping Korean singer Lee Seung-gi back in the days.
During a guest appearance on SBS variety show "Steel Heart" on Tuesday, which Lee co-hosts with top emcee Kang Ho-dong, the funnywoman shared an anecdote from when she and Lee were both with the same agency and he ended up creating trouble in return for her favors,...More

Rain says "Im Soo-jeong is my ideal woman"2010/05/06, Source,
Korean entertainer Rain appears on talk show "Steel Heart" [SBS]
Korean entertainer Rain has revealed that actress Im Soo-jeong is his ideal type of woman.
The 27-year-old singer and actor made the remark while appearing as a guest on popular SBS talk show "Steel Heart" which aired on April 4.
On the show, Rain was offered to take part in a segment called "Surprise Ideal Woman World Cup", selecting Im as his ideal woman among many female celebrities including,...More

Korean Wave: The New Generation2010/04/23, Source,
Official poster for SBS TV series "Shining Inheritance" [SBS]
Korean dramas stir new waves in Japan
Fuji TV's program "Hallyu Alpha" (Mon-Fri 2:07~3:00), which started airing on January 11 in hopes of creating 'a new Hallyu generation', has been receiving positive feedback. Back in 2004, Fuji TV had arranged a program called "Saturday Hallyu Wide Hour", airing dramas such as "Stairway to Heaven" and "Sad Love Story" but had cancelled it due to low ratings. This time, "Hallyu Alpha" tried to differentiate itself from other programs by playing uncensored versions of dramas, providing bilingual broadcast (in Japanese and Korean) and adding special features such as exclusive interviews with the cast and behind-the-scenes footage. MBC TV series "My Name is Kim Sam-soon" kicked off the program, followed by KBS' "Women in the Sun" in February,...More

The Luxury Properties Owned by Korean Stars2010/03/18, Source, Sports, TV and movie stars are the envy of many, and that has if anything increased with the revelations of their vast real estate holdings. Although such cases are limited to only the highest-paid st,...More

Han Hyo-joo to visit Japan for drama promotion2010/03/03, Source,
Korean actress Han Hyo-joo [BH Entertainment]
Korean actress Han Hyo-joo will visit Japan this week to promote her drama "Shining Inheritance" which began airing in the country on Tuesday.
Her agency BH Entertainment explained Thursday that Han, who played the lead female character Go Eun-sung in the series, is scheduled to arrive in Japan on Friday with co-star Lee Seung-gi for a press conference, hold interviews with some 80 journalists and participate in an event with selected fans.,...More

The set of "Steel Heart" is where heaven is2010/02/15, Source,
Hosts of "Steel Heart": Singer/actor Lee Seung-gi (left) and emcee Kang Ho-dong [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]
"Everyone, are you going to feel tired during today's taping? You are, aren't you?" The person who says this in the most coy yet charming way is none other than Kang Ho-dong, the main host of SBS variety show "Steel Heart". He was a former national champion in Korean wrestling and currently also plays the Knee-Drop Guru [on MBC's celebrity talk show "Golden Fishery"]. And like the male Siberian Tiger he is called, more than capable of going out far beyond Korea, his show "Two Night and One Day" is also ready to soon go on its excursion to the South Pole.
With more than twenty guests appearing on every episode, inevitably making the conversations last for over a total six to seven hours in a single sitting, the show's taping session becomes a test of one's physical strength. Hence, the host has to tend to the audience before shooting begins and Kang's partner Lee Seung-gi also greets the audience members with his generous smile. But the audience seem particularly glad to see Lee Soo-geun -- comedian and former MC of a rival variety show -- and cry out in unison "Soo-geun oppa! Great to see you!" before the taping begins. But for Lee -- who coveted Kang Ho-dong's position as show host -- such moments of glory comes to an abrupt end, lasting only five minutes as he starts to ramble during his turn to speak. Then Kang Hong-dong and Lee Seung-gi display their superb skills as hosts by keeping the conversation going and lifting up the atmosphere again,...More

[INTERVIEW and PHOTOS] Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi2010/01/22, Source,
Actor Lee Seung-gi [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]
10: The photographer said you are good at putting on different expressions, as if you're acting while thinking about a certain situation. What do you think about when you take photos?Lee Seung-gi (Lee): I noticed that some of my senior actors put on different expressions when they take photos. And it seems that the more I think, the more various expressions I can put on. That's why I imagine I'm acting when I'm being photographed.
10: Are you the type that usually prepares and thinks a lot in advance? Lee: The president of my agency is strict (laugh) so even if I do start becoming lazy, people around me set me straight so that I can prepare in time. And it's different when I go to a shoot for TV shows with the ad-libs prepared. Even with talk show "Strong Heart", I can think up several dozens of ad-libs if I look at the script enough. But I'll only get to use one of them on the show so I keep thinking of the different situations which could arise on the show.
10: So the seemingly spontaneous remarks you make on "Strong Heart" are actually from thorough preparation. Lee: That's why I have a headache. [Kang] Ho-dong is the main host of the show so he has no choice but to go along with the script. I can help make the show better by wrapping up a conversation after a guest answers Kang's question. But it's something you can't prepare in advance which is why it's so difficult.,...More

Variety show "Two Nights" eyeing March for South Pole shoot2010/01/12, Source,
A scene from variety show "Two Nights and One Day" [KBS]
KBS variety show "Two Night and One Days" is aimed at visiting the South Pole for a shoot in March, according to the show's producer on Tuesday.
"We haven't set a detailed schedule yet but are laying out our plans with March in mind", Na Young-suk told Asia Economic Daily over the phone.
He added cautiously though, that the date may be pushed back since it is not easy coordinating the schedules of the cast composed of singers, comedians and actors. "We're having a hard time setting a time frame because it's not easy for everyone to push back or miss out on all their other activities for two whole weeks".,...More

Jang Seo-hee wins grand prize at SBS Drama Awards2010/01/04, Source,
Korean actress Jang Seo-hee at SBS Drama Awards [SBS]
Korean actress Jang Seo-hee won the grand prize at the SBS Drama Awards, held at SBS' Open Hall on December 31.
Jang was awarded the top honor for her role in "Temptation of Wife", which was one of the most-watched and most controversial dramas of the year for its sensational storyline.
"I didn't want to cry. I wanted to be cool about receiving [the award]".. said Jang in her acceptance speech. "I thought I wouldn't be able to win this because of the genre. I would like to thank writer Kim Soon-ok... I was in a slump for three years but she helped me make a comeback".,...More

Yoo Jae-seok, Lee Hyori share grand prize at SBS Entertainment Awards2009/12/31, Source,
Korean entertainers Lee Hyori (left) and Yoo Jae-seok at SBS Entertainment Awards [SBS]
Korean entertainers Yoo Jae-seok and Lee Hyori shared the grand prize at the year-end SBS Entertainment Awards, held at SBS' Open Hall on Wednesday.
Yoo, who won the same title yesterday at MBC, was so nervous and ecstatic that he could not carry on with his speech.
"I don't know how to express my gratitude", said Yoo in his acceptance speech. "This is too big of an award for me. I won a big award yesterday and I don't know if I should keep receiving these awards. Thank you so much, I can't think of what to say. Can Hyo-lee go first?",...More

KBS music awards2009/12/30, Source, Shin Seung-hoon, 2PM attend KBS music awards
Shin Seung-hoon and 2PM [KBS]
From left, singer Shin Seung-hoon and boy band 2PM members Nichkhun, Junsu and Junho perform together on stage at major broadcaster KBS' year-end music awards held at the KBS Hall in Seoul, South Korea on December 30, 2009.,...More

[FOCUS] 10 Awards - Top 10 Entertainment News of 2009 2009/12/30, Source, Top 10 News of 2009
Two former presidents and a king passed away. One wrong remark during an entertainment show took the entire country by storm. Such unbelievably enormous incidents were played out in unbelievable directions during 2009. Thus, the top ten news of 2009 selected by <10 Asia> may seem like the ten most incredulous news of the year. But one could say that what these ten news stories have in common is that they carry the flow of Korea's pop culture. Can you really believe that all these things happened within a span of one year?
News 1. Actress Jang Ja-yeon commits suicide
Actress Jang Ja-yeon [KBS]
On March 7, one little known actress wrote in her suicide note, "I am a weak, powerless actress. I want to be free from this pain" and killed herself. It was actress Jang Ja-yeon, who was appearing in KBS TV series "Boys over Flowers" at the time. The suicide note, which was 12 pages long on A4-sized paper, explained that she had been physically abused by her agency, forced to drink and provide sexual services. It also listed names of high-ranking executives in the industry, including a head of media company, television drama director and owners of business companies. People started calling the note "The Jang Ja-yeon List". The incident brought to surface how badly aspiring actresses and female celebrities in general have been violated and the ugly power of the media. But due to slow, passive investigation by the Korean authorities, the truth never came to light. Of all people who were under investigation, only two people involved in the incident -- former head of Jang's agency and former manager who exposed Jang's suicide notes -- were indicted and the suspects whose names were listed in the documents were all cleared of charges and let go. Was the death of Jang Ja-yeon a suicide or a homicide?,...More

(10 FOCUS) 10 Awards - Top 10 People of 20092009/12/22, Source, Top 10 People of 2009
In the entertainment industry, the end of a year is a season about watching and talking about "people". Many media outlets select their "person of the year" and people flock to year-end awards shows to hear a quote from stars that they do not get to see often. 10Asia picked our own figures of the year, but there is no red carpet or photo spotlights for the stars to enter upon. Our selection of "persons of 2009" are not top stars who attained the most popularity from the public, but people who changed the landscape of Korea's entertainment industry and stimulated the public with experiences that we had not had before. Here are ten people who showed us a new direction for upcoming 2010.,...More

[ChanMi's star news] Lee Seung-gi becomes MC!2009/09/22, Source, The first talk show lead for the nation's MC Kang Ho-dong will be partnering with the young actor Lee Seung-gi for the new SBS show, "Kang Sim Jang".
It is first time that Lee will be MC for a talk show and everyone around him encouraged him for this position!
The two MCs have already w,...More

[ChanMi's drama news] The secret of being number 1 casting star2008/07/12, Source, Before being officially casted for a drama there are many compromises and processes to follow. Although there might be a star that the producing staff wants it doesn't mean they will get the star. The star may be "perfect" for the role, but we in fact the star who took on this lead role is actually the 3rd or 4th actor/actress approached.,...More

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